Keeper link



www@ 17 MA. J, F MEM @M 24,359

KEEPER LINK Filed NOV. l, 1940 Patented June 17, 1941 `Joseph Jelinek, `ll/Iinneapolis, and ,Emmet .Oeill ;St. Baul, Minn., .assignors .to St. Paul Hydraulic' iHoist .Qompanm Minneapolis, Minn., incorporation oi'Michigan vimplication:November 1, 1940, .Serial -1No. 363,890

.(.CL l6-169) '3 Claims.

This invention relates `to improvements :in keeper Alinks `ordevices for use -in freleas'ably iretaining pivot -or .fasteninglpinsin :placein the vsupporting parts.

Such devices are usedior quickly and:releas ably :retaining such pins `in place and supplant the more conventional nuts, ycotters, :and the like which are lslow `in foperation and :generally arequire'the use of tools `in theirinstallationforlremoval.

The primaryfobject of `our .invention` iszto r'provide a device ofthislrind which .willbe simple, capable of convenientapplication or disconnection from `the :pin fand which `.will nevertheless provide asecure and safe fasteningmeans for-'the pin.

Another-,object isnto pro-vide a link of this kind to actas .akeeper -ifor the pin and which is so constructed as to have sufficient resiliency to provide a continuous grip upon the pin but to permit convenient removal without tools when desired.

These and other more detailed and specific objects will be disclosed in the course of the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a truck body and end gate showing our keeper link in use for retaining a hinge pin for the gate` in place.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the hinge structure showing the keeper in place.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a pin prepared for the use of our keeper.

Fig. 4 is a plan or elevational View of the keeper or link alone.

This application is a continuation in part from our copending application for United States patent on a Convertible end gate hinge, filed April 13, 1940, under Serial No. 329,440. Reference is invited to this application for a complete disclosure of the hinge mechanisms for the end gate.

Referring now more particularly and by reference characters to the drawing, A represents a truck body (only the rear end portion of which is shown) having rear corner posts `B defining a dumping opening C which is adapted to be closed by the end gate D. Said end gate may hinge either from lower, combination latch and hinge units E or from upper hinge mechanisms F as has been fully disclosed in our copending application hereinabove identified.

The said upper hinge mechanisms F each includes a bracket G having spaced sides H to receive `the 1 link bars `I which connect Ito `the gate Dhand registeringapertures J rare provided in the parts 'H and "Ifto selectively receive 'a pivot or fhinge `'pin TK. :Said rpin mustbe vcapable of being fconveniently shifted" between iront fand rear-*apertures J in theoperation of `the gateland, o'fl course, `must :be `secured against dislodgement from said apertures when adjustedtherein.

In accordance'with thepresent invention fthe pins Kreach have a-head 5 at one en'd ofits rouniiedfshank` portionS and at the opposite end a circumferential groove 1 is provided insuch `position that it `will just "fall outwardly clear n of theibracket side H through `which'this endfof thepinrprojects as shownin Fig.`2.

Ourfkeeper device or lin-kis designated l'generally fat 8 :and :as kshown i is substantially "pearshaped`ihaving 4a rounde'd,bight oreyefen'dfor portion 9, a larger rounded loop 'endvor portion I0 and connecting, substantially parallel leg or side portions II. The link is made from spring wire, rod, or similar material and a length of such material is bent back on itself to provide the eye end 9, then the leg or side portions II and finally the larger loop end I0. The ends I2 of the material forming the loop- I0 are left free and overlap as clearly indicated for a purpose which will presently appear.

The internal diameter of the eye end 9 is slightly greater than the diameter of the groove 1 in the pin K whereas the spacing between the leg or side portions II is slightly less than this diameter of thegroove. The loop end I0 is of course considerably lai ger in diameter than the pin.

The link is bent substantially at the junction I3 of one leg portion II with the eye end 9 and at the other side substantially at the junction I4 of the other leg portion and the loop end I0 as best seen in Fig. 2. As a result, the loop end I0 stands angularly to the plane of the eye end 9 and this staggering of these, in effect, offsetting bends enables the partially curved ends I2 of the link to nicely overlie each other in the formation of -said loop end I0.

A tie chain or similar ilexible fastener I5 connects the loop end of each link 8 to the corner posts B of the truck body to permit sufficient freedom for manipulation of the links but to prevent their loss or misplacement.

In use the pin K is placed in the desired position and the keeper link 8 is then engaged therewith by slipping the eye end 9 into the groove 1 so that this end of the link overlies the bracket side H around the end of the pin and prevents its dislodgement. In this position the loop end I0 of the link stands outward at an angle to the bracket side as clearly shown and thus permits the convenient manipulation of the link With the hand. The diameter of the eye end 9 as described is such that it will retain its engagement with the groove 1 and the narrow space between the side or leg portions II will prevent disengagement by the accidental endwise shifting of the link.

To thus engage the link the pin end may be introduced into the loop end I0 and then by a pull on this end the leg portions Il may slide through the groove until the eye end 9 comes to rest encircling said groove. Opposite movement of the link will free it from the pin and it will be evident that the freedom for transverse springing movement (in the plane of the leg portions H) due to the parted overlapped ends l2 of said loop I0 will facilitate this operation.

'I'he parted overlapping ends I2 also make it possible to spread the leg portions Il of the llink simply by grasping the loop end ID and urging said ends I2 relatively together as will be clearly evident. This operation will make it possible to engage the link with the pin without the aforesaid endwise movement or will greatly facilitate this operation.

It is to be understood of course that our link device may be used wherever a quick, convenient and positive type of keeper of this kind may be desired.

It is understood that suitable modifications may be made in the structure as disclosed, provided such modifications come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Having now therefore fully illustrated and described our invention, what we claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. A keeper link for engaging a circumferentially grooved pin, comprising a partially round bight portion adapted to engage the groove in the pin, side portions extending from the extremities of the bight portion and terminating in rounded ends defining a partially round loop portion, and the said side portions being bent angularly with respect to the plane of the bight portion and at relatively diierent points with respect thereto, whereby the loop end will be angularly disposed and to cause one of the rounded ends dening said loop to overlie the other.

2. The combination with a hinge structure including a hinge member and a pin extended outwardly through one side thereof and provided with a groove in its extended end portion, of a locking link comprising an end larger in diameter than the pin and a relatively narrow extended end portion adapted for frictional engagement with the groove in the pin, a flexible member connected to the larger end of the link, and the said link being bent between its ends to cause the larger end to stand outward from said hinge member when the narrow end portion is engaged with the groove in the pin.

3. A keeper link for engaging a grooved pin, comprising a partially circular end adapted to engage the groove in the pin, side members extending from thev extremities of the partially circular end and terminating in rounded end portions dening a partially circular loop greater in diameter than the pin, and the said rounded end portions being overlapped where they deiine the loop to thereby permit the side portions of the link to be spread apart by relative movement of said end portions.

JOSEPH F. JELINEK. EMMET OREILLY. 

